Hillary sends condolences over deadly China quake

Washington: Top US diplomat Hillary Clinton offered her "deepest condolences" on Thursday after an earthquake that struck a remote area of southwest China near the Myanmar border left at least 25 people dead.

At least 250 people also were injured in the quake, which reduced hundreds of houses to rubble, left some desperate residents trapped under buildings and triggered power cuts in the surrounding area of China. No casualties were reported in Myanmar.

"On behalf of President (Barack) Obama and the people of the United States, I send our deepest condolences to those affected by the recent tragedy in southwestern China," Hillary said in a statement.

"As people in Yunnan province mourn the loss of life and work to save those that are injured and trapped in the rubble, our thoughts are with the injured, the families of the victims, and with all the people of China."

The epicentre of the 5.4-magnitude quake, which struck at 12:58 pm (0458 GMT), was located about 140 miles (225 kilometres) west-southwest of the ancient city of Dali in Yunnan province, the US Geological Survey reported.

The quake hit at a depth of 21 miles (34 kilometres), the USGS said, though Chinese seismologists put the depth at just six miles (10 kilometres).

The toll has risen to 25 dead and 250 injured, 134 of them seriously, Xinhua news agency said, citing local authorities.

The quake toppled the homes of 1,039 families and seriously damaged nearly 5,000 others, mostly in the border town of Yingjiang, it added.